What is better than Octobear? Watching Halloween movies during Octobear! Some people are horror fanatics and some, not so much. The latter spend their time with what should be considered “Halloween classics.” For them, this is a reminder of the movies they love to watch and for the rest of you: this is a wake up call.

There are some wonderful films (my personal favorites) that were released in the early 90s to 2000s that everyone should have seen by now and if not, then get on it!

The Nightmare Before Christmas, released in 1993, can also be categorized as a Christmas movie. It is an animated stop motion film that is also a musical, courtesy of Disney and Tim Burton. Jack Skellington is a resident of Halloween Town who, once discovering the glories of Christmas, tries to replicate it in his own special way. Of course, living in a town that does not quite understand the concept of ‘merry’ and ‘jolly,’ brings about some rather terrible, yet comical, consequences. There also happens to be a really cute ghost dog in this film if that floats your boat.

The next movie from 1993 is the cult classic Hocus Pocus. It’s the story of three witches who were accidentally resurrected by a teenage boy who was messin’ around with the wrong stuff. It could be described as a little bit campy and though it isn’t a musical per say, there a few instances in which the characters break out in song. This one has a cat so…again, if that is something that floats your boat…though the cat is not necessarily a cat. You are going to have to watch this movie to figure out what that cryptic nonsense means.

Who can forget the friendly ghost? Casper was released in 1995. This film has a mixture of live-action actors as well as voice actors who play the plethora of animated ghosts featured throughout the film. The movie is a about a young ghost who peacefully haunts the mansion where a paranormal specialist takes his daughter to check out the ghostly activity taking place. This movie is a good time for all, except for people against human-ghost love. If that includes you, then maybe avoid this one.

Casper Meets Wendy was released three years after, starring Hilary Duff. Wendy and Casper team up to defeat an evil warlock. Is it the same as the previous Casper? Not really, but who really knows. Watching both of these films can fulfill your heart’s greatest ghostly desires.

Should I mention Pooh’s Heffalump Halloween Movie? Probably not but

it’s too late now.

October would be incomplete without the 1998 Disney series, Halloweentown. The series consists of four movies: Halloweentown, Halloweentown II: Kalabar’s Revenge, Halloweentown High, and Return to Halloweentown. Though, for the last one they thought they could pull a fast one and switch out the actress who plays the lead, Marnie Piper. It did not work. Everyone noticed. It is pretty much what you would expect from a Disney channel film and yet it remains as one of the names forever associated with the wonderful season of Halloween. The main premise of the first film is that Marnie learns she is a witch then continues to help save a town full of supernatural creatures. An average day for anyone, really.

Twitches is another Disney channel film that was released in 2005. It stars the Sister, Sister twins Tia and Tamera Mowry as two teen witches who were separated at birth but meet on their 21st birthday to use their powers to save the world. There was also a Twitches Too in 2007 but no one remembers that.

So, through this wonderful month of Octobear, surround yourself with campy comedy instead of terrifying horror, it’s more fun that way.